DOST-ICTO to establish Tech4Ed centers in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY– The Department of Science and Technology-Information Communication Technology Office (DOST-ICTO), together with the local government units in Pangasinan, will soon establish a knowledge hub in rural areas to open opportunities to the most vulnerable sectors of society.

DOST-ICTO Information Officer Roy Espiritu, who represented Undersecretary Louis Napoleon Casambre, said the knowledge hub known as “Tech4Ed Center” aims to bring digital opportunities to the most marginalized and vulnerable sectors of the society who remain foreign to digital technology because of lack of access to digital resources.

“The impact of information and communication technology on the lives of Filipinos has been very significant that it opens opportunities for growth and development of the society,” Espiritu said during the Multi-Stakeholders ICT Forum and Tech4Ed memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing held at the CSI Stadia here on Friday.

To this end, DOST-ICTO looks forward to start a positive development outside the urban areas through the four Tech4Ed platforms, he said.

Education, entrepreneurship, employment and economic development are the four platforms of the program.

“With the Tech4Ed program, vulnerable groups such as indigenous people and persons with disability now have a chance to upgrade their skills and earn income through online jobs,” he said citing that education through online learning centers will now be more accessible to people especially to out-of-school youths.

Espiritu added that through online markets and cooperatives, entrepreneurship can be more accessible while employment will now be more abundant through online skills training and development.

He also mentioned that agricultural jobs like farming and livestock will be more competitive through better market linkages and real time information.

 “Through the Tech4Ed program and the free wi-fi in public places project, the DOST-ICTO allows public access to information, communication, technology, government services, non-formal education, tele-health, job portals, online market place and skills training for livelihood and employment,” said Espiritu.

Likewise, he said Tech4Ed program aims to give equal opportunities to every ‘Juan’ in order to have inclusive growth and reduce poverty incidence in the country. (VHS/EMBS/PIA-1, Pangasinan)